What no other Cricketer in the world achieved, Sachin Tendulkar did achieve. Congratulations to him. I have no words to express my admiration for his excellence in playing excellent Cricket during the last quarter of the century.However, my greatest admiration goes to his cool and composed temperament on the field even though the decision of the Umpire may be unpalatable for him to accept.
Even in his last inning he was declared out at 74 score, he was calm and very normal showing no regret, no anger nor frustration. While leaving the field his body language showed that as a true sportsman having genuine sporting spirit, he accepted the fact and that is, he was rightly declared as “Out”.
That he was a genius in Cricket is correct and befitting his majesticity in playing majestic Cricket, the custodian of Cricket in India gave him a fitting farewell, of course deservingly, backed by the support of his fans from inside and outside India, comprising ordinary and VIP’s. It is a very good gesture of acknowledging his contribution not only for Indian Cricket but World Cricket as well. I don’t think we will be able to see another cricketer Tendulkar in our lifetime because such a great sportsman comes to a nation only once in centuries.
To describe his greatness many persons showered many superlatives on him even calling him as a God thereby diminishing the importance of God. This is incorrect and sacrilegious. God is God and Tendulkar is Tendulkar, a mortal creature. I feel sorry for such ignorant people for equating God with human being.
Again, while showering praises on him, somebody equated him with World renowned Boxer Muhammed Ali. That Tendular is the greatest Cricketer is a hard fact but to equate him with Mohammed Ali is to lower the greatness of Mohammed Ali. Mohammed Ali was not only the greatest Boxer in the history of World but also a very strong activist who shook the USA by fighting against its involvement in Vietnam War where innumerable people died there.
It was Mohammed Ali who raised his strongest voice against this ugly war while he was still ruling the World Boxing and demanded withdrawal of USA from this War where thousands of American soldiers died. Earlier the entire world tried to do what Ali did but America bent its knees when Mohammed Ali protested against this war and then only USA decided to withdraw from Vietnam.
Till Mohammed Ali came on to the scene there was silence from Americans on this war but when Ali raised his voice against American involvement in this War, the entire American populace became alert and brought pressure on USA government to stop this war. It all happened because the Sportsman Boxer in Ali awakened the conscience of American citizens who along with Ali brought pressure on the American administration to put an end to this war.
What Mohammed Ali did Tendulkar has never done because Tendulkar is just a soldier on the cricket field and not the general. Even the captaincy of Indian cricket team when given to Tendulkar he returned it back because Tendulkar is either a coward or shy to give a lead as a leader. He lacked leadership qualities. He is an individualistic minded person, interested only in doing his job well.
Besides playing wonderful cricket Tendulkar has not involved openly in any other activities or social causes for the benefit of the society. Mohammed Ali has got Charitable Center to help people while Tendulkar is not seen spending even a tiny portion of his 50 plus millions he acquired thru cricket. Even the young Pakistani girl Malala established her own Center to help the girls education.
With his money power Tendulkar can help so many activities to help people especially poor as Mohammed Ali’s Centre does in USA or he can emulate his counterpart in Pakistan who constructed a huge Cancer hospital. Mohammed Ali used his Sports influence to influence the wrong deeds of his government while Tendulkar does not raise his voice against the injustice done in India by the Government. Tendulkar’s voice has weight but he is not using it while Mohammed Ali used his voice and gained success.
Some people are telling that he deserved “Bharat Ratna”. This is too much because Tendulkar as a Cricketer does not merit this mighty Bharat Ratna. Bharat Ratna is not meant for this puny man, he got lot to do in the service of the nation and its people. Giving Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar means lowering the greatness of this Award.
Even the Seat given to Tendulkar in the Rajya Sabah is too big for him. He will fail there and fail his fans also. The game of Cricket is different from the game of Politics and to play this game Tendulkar is still a raw child of India. To succeed in the Parliament, Tendulkar has to become Brazilian ex soccer star Romario who is shaking not only Brazilian parliament but also the mighty FIFA regarding the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.